Tag Archives: North West MEC for Treasury

Bakgatlha Baga Kgafela Tribal Authority receives its financial report 

NEWS Leave a comment

Picture: The Chairperson of the North West House of Traditional Leaders and Khoi-San, Kgosi Thari Maotwe and North West MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho, hand over financial report to a traditional leader from the Bakgatla ba Kgafela tribal council/Supplied  

By OBAKENG MAJE 

North West MEC for Treasury, Molalepula Rosho said, the provincial government has honoured its promise to the North West Traditional Authorities by handing over financial reports of their respective councils. 

Rosho said for many years, the North West Traditional Authorities have requested the provincial government to provide them with information relating to the financial transaction reports regarding their respective councils. 

In a meeting that was held last year in Sun City, Rosho and North West MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Nono Maloyi, have acceded to the call by the traditional authorities and committed that the request will be sanctioned.

“The North West Department of Treasury in collaboration with the North West Department of COGTA and Office of the Premier, have commenced with a series of roadshows that are aimed at providing traditional authorities with the information related to financial transactions processed since 1994 to March 2023. 

“These roadshows mark a significant step towards fostering transparency, collaboration, and accountability within our traditional communities. The initiative kick-started on 16 April 2024 in Phokeng, near Rustenburg with Dikgosi of Rustenburg and Mankwe,” she said. 

Rosho further said this will be followed by Madikwe, Moretele, Madibeng, Lehurutshe, Ditsobotla, Molopo, Taung and Ganyesa respectively. She added that, the exercise is envisaged to be concluded during mid-May.

“We acknowledged the importance of traditional authorities to be provided with these financial reports as they are expected to play a more significant role in overseeing the allocation of resources in their communities. 

“The need to foster clear and open communication channels and committed government towards building trust and ensure that traditional authorities are fully informed and engaged in decision-making processes that impact their communities,” said Rosho.

She emphasised that traditional authorities should also be equipped with knowledge that enables them to understand the financial information contained in the report. Rosho also indicated that traditional authorities have proven beyond reasonable doubt that they are valuable community builders, therefore it is imperative that they are empowered with knowledge. 

“Yet, amidst the trials of adversity, traditional leaders emerged as beacons of resilience and agents of progress. In the absence of adequate government infrastructure in the past, they assumed the mantle of development, spearheading initiatives to uplift their communities and foster sustainable growth. 

“The indomitable spirit and unwavering commitment of our traditional leaders to the well-being of their people, epitomize the essence of African leadership at its finest,” she said.

Meanwhile, the representative from the Office of the Premier, Zacharia Tolo, who is an advisor to the Premier, endorsed the session and commended the two departments for ensuring that the D-account has been shared with the traditional authorities. Tolo said it is public knowledge that this has been a thorny issue that ought to be dealt with in a transparent manner.  

“We draw inspiration from the rich tapestry of history that surrounds us and may we march forward with steadfast determination towards a future characterized by prosperity, inclusivity, and shared prosperity,” he said.

The Chairperson of the North West House of Traditional Leaders and Khoi-San, Kgosi Thari Maotwe, expressed his gratitude and said this move is an indication that intergovernmental relations are recognised in the province. 

Maotwe committed that the traditional leaders will always welcome any interventions that are brought by the government to empower traditional leaders as this will translate to better service delivery in the various communities of the province.

The traditional leaders that were present received envelopes containing various reports of their respective traditional councils and signed an acknowledged receipt to symbolise their commitment to the handover process. 

taungdailynews@gmail.com

North West govt gets R53 billion budget for 2024/25 financial year 

NEWS Leave a comment

Picture: North West MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho/Facebook 

By OBAKENG MAJE 

North West MEC for Treasury, Motlalepula Rosho said the provincial fiscal framework consists of equitable share, conditional grants and own revenue is amounting to R53.700 billion for the 2024/25 financial year, R55.086 billion for the 2025/26 financial year and R57.348 billion for the 2026/27 financial year. 

Rosho said this culminates into a total allocation of R166.134 billion over the MTEF. She further said the social cluster, consisting of Education, Health, Human Settlements, Social Development, Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation, is allocated an amount of R42.842 billion in 2024/25. 

She added that, the North West Department of Education receives R21.932 billion, Health is allocated R16.522 billion, Human Settlements’ budget is R1.826 billion, Social Development allocation amounts to R1.811 billion, whilst Arts, Culture, Sports & Recreation receives R750.401 million.

“Within these allocations, the special provisions are made for construction and maintenance of health facilities, the province will be spending an amount of R705.561 million through Health Facility Revitalisation Grant in the 2024/25 financial year. An amount of R1.6 billion is allocated for medicine and medical supplies.

“This allocation will ensure that people of the North West, have access to medicine and medical supplies as and when they visit hospitals and clinics. An amount of R1.304 billion is allocated for Education Infrastructure Grant, to fast-track the implementation of school infrastructure,” said Rosho. 

She said this will include the elimination of backlogs with the focus of increasing classes, improving sanitation at schools by building toilets, that provide learners with adequate and dignified sanitation. Rosho said the budget of R702.874 million has been allocated for the delivery of Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM), inclusive of stationery, textbooks and workbooks to 1445 schools and 32 public special schools around the province for 2024/24 financial year. 

“An amount of R664.104 million is allocated for the National School Nutrition Programme to benefit 750 000 learners annually, where breakfast will be introduced to certain schools in the most disadvantaged communities.

“The Sanitary Dignity Programme (SDP) is allocated an amount of R19.341 million in 2024/25 to support over 252 000 learners’ in quintiles 1 to 3 schools as well as in special schools. This programme provides girls with uninterrupted education and instils confidence and self-esteem allowing them to reach their full potential,” she said. 

Rosho said social welfare services to the communities, including services to people with disabilities, as well as for implementing social behaviour programmes, is allocated an amount of R270.088 million. She said the largest share of this allocation is funding earmarked for Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs), amounting to R240.088 million. 

“An amount of R155 million is allocated to transform community library services mainly for previously disadvantaged communities. An amount of R1.556 billion is for development of houses and servicing of the sites through the Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG) and Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant (ISUP). 

“Due to the reduction to the HSDG and ISUP funding over the MTEF and increasing need for housing coupled with backlogs in this sector, the Executive Council has endorsed a process to solicit R2 billion through front-loading/pledging of future Human Settlements grants,” said Rosho.

She said the pledging will be done in line with the Borrowing Powers of Provincial Government Act 48 of 1996 read together with the Division of Revenue Act in an effort to aggressively expand housing delivery in the face of pending grants reduction.

Rosho said the Economic Cluster consisting of Public Works & Roads, Agriculture and Rural Development and Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, has been allocated a consolidated budget amounting to R6.224 billion in 2024/25.

taungdailynews@gmail.com